It is estimated that up to 2 million cases of skin cancer worldwide may be prevented each year by 2030.

The global health and economic benefits are expected to amount to US$2.2 trillion, as a result of averted damages to agriculture, fisheries and materials.

Over 98% of ozone-depleting substances have been phased out globally to date. Without the treaty, the hole in the Antarctic ozone would have been 40% larger in 2013.

What is the ozone?

The Earth is surrounded by a layer of atmosphere that protects it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These rays can cause skin cancer, create cataracts in our eyes and impair our immune systems; they also threaten plant growth and food chains.

The Kigali Amendment added an agreement to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This group of chemicals replaced CFCs because they are ozone-safe. However, while they aren’t directly responsible for depleting the ozone layer, they are powerful greenhouse gases. Although only comprising a small proportion of emissions, HFCs can be thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to climate change.